Page 2 of Good Girl and Grinches

“Organized, successful, charming…” I tip my glass to my lips, met with a lonely ice cube. “I’d rather not think of her as having a type.”

She laughs again, head tilted back, exposing her throat. The guy says something else and she steps even closer, until their bodies nearly touch. Her free hand gestures animatedly as she talks.

She’s supposed to be serving drinks and hors d’oeuvres not parking it for story hour for some rich fuck.

I force myself to look away. I fail. I’ve never watched her flirt before. She’s quirky but it must be working. The electricity crackling between them is visible even from across the room.

Flame downs the rest of his beer. “Good thing she’s not up for bid.”

The asshole would certainly bid on her. A bashful smile tells me that she would disagree with my assessment of his asshole status.

Sabrina’s brain must remind her that she has a job to do, and she steps away. The vulture shifts his weight to watch her leave. No decency.

But the motion gives me a look at his face and I freeze. “What the fuck?” I nudge Ghost’s arm.

“That’s Tyson. The bastard from the arson case.” Ghost shifts toward the man.

“Easy.” I grab his sleeve. “We haven’t proven it.”

“The evidence is solid.” Flame’s usual smirk vanishes. “If he lights her world on fire, there’s too much of a likelihood it would be a literal fire.”

I force my breaths to slow, fighting the urge to march over there myself. “He’ll be arrested before long. If he wins any of the women tonight, we’ll talk to Laz, otherwise we need to lay low.”

Ghost’s voice drops to a dangerous whisper. “Or I could just escort him out.”

“No.” The word comes out sharper than intended. “Everything about this investigation is classified. He doesn’t know we’re onto him. We start making accusations, he could skip town.”

Flame runs a hand through his hair. “So what, we just let this creep chat up our baby sister?”

“I’ll keep eyes on him.” My stomach churns watching Sabrina glance at our suspect as she replenishes her serving tray with her friends. “He’ll lose interest once the auction starts.”

The truth is, I don’t want any man near Sabrina. Not this suspect, not the rich idiots here to bid on virgins, none of them. I check the time. Why can’t they start the auction early—end my suffering?

“Fine.” Ghost crosses his arms. “But if Ty makes a move—”

A voice booms over the PA system. It’s Lazovski, the owner of the Aubergine Affair. “Attention, everyone. I’ve just received word that the auctionees’ car slid off the road in the snowstorm. Thankfully they’re unharmed. Just going to be a little late. Please be patient.”

Fuck no. I didn’t think the evening could get worse, but a delay means more time watching Sabrina get ogled by men who don’t deserve someone as sweet and innocent as her.

The delay is also the impetus for concern. Several bidders start discussing the possibility that some of the waitresses might want to step up. Next thing I know, they’re chanting for Jasmine, one of Sabrina’s friends to take the stage.

Too close to home.

And furthering the downward spiral of the evening, it looks like Jasmine is trying to talk Sabrina and their other friend into being auctioned. Knowing that Sabrina loves planning and prep work as much as the events themselves, I try to assure myself that she wouldn’t do something so spontaneous.

Would she? Maybe I don’t know my stepsister as good as I think I do.

My stomach drops as Sabrina volunteers with three other waitresses. Her fingers find that lip gloss, applying a fresh coat while Laz informs everyone of the changes.

“No.” The word escapes before I can stop it. If she goes on stage, I’ll have to bid on her. The avalanche of problems snowballs from revealing my feelings for her all the way to the old guard turning our promotions down because I’m shacking up with my stepsister, regardless of my investigative abilities. Too much risk.

“It’s way too rash for her.” Ghost’s voice comes out strangled.

Flame grabs the edge of our table. “Do you think they pressured her?”

I catch Ty’s predatory smile as he moves closer to the stage, his eyes locked on Sabrina. My chest constricts. This can’t be happening. She can’t auction herself off, not with him here. Not with any of these men.

Two

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